LSU's women's basketball team experienced a heartbreaking end to their NCAA Tournament journey on Friday night in Sacramento, falling in the Sweet 16 round to Duke on a buzzer-beater by Ashlon Jackson. The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Tigers, especially for senior guard Flau'jae Johnson, who was directly guarding Jackson on the game-winning shot. Despite the disappointing finish, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey is already planning ahead for the future and has made it clear that retirement is not on her horizon.
At 63 years old, Mulkey remains deeply committed to coaching and intends to continue leading LSU's program. "I'm not retiring," she said. "I plan to hire two coaches quickly. I plan to get in the portal and get two or three more players and take a little time off, go see my grandchildren." Mulkey also addressed the speculation about how long she will remain in the game, stating firmly that she will coach "unless LSU fires me, until I can't put a product on that floor that's competitive or my health fails me." Her dedication to the sport is unwavering, and she shows no signs of stepping away anytime soon.
Mulkey's coaching career is distinguished by an impressive collection of seven national championships accumulated across her time as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. She won three titles as head coach at Baylor in 2005, 2012, and 2019. More recently, she captured her fourth national championship as a head coach last year, in 2023, with LSU. That championship roster featured star forward Angel Reese and senior guard Flau'jae Johnson. With Johnson's collegiate career now concluded following Friday's game, an era has ended for LSU's women's basketball program, ushering in a period of transition and rebuilding.
Johnson, who had been a key player for the Tigers over her four years, had an unfortunate moment on the final play, biting on a pump fake that allowed Jackson to get off the game-winning shot. It was a tough way for her to close out her college basketball journey, but Mulkey emphasized that the pain of such a loss will fade over time. "You thank them," Mulkey said about how she addresses her team after a tough defeat.
"You start with your seniors, and you thank them for an unbelievable career, an unbelievable year." She acknowledged the emotional investment players like Johnson have made in the program, which makes the losses harder to accept. "You remind them that nothing I say is going to make them feel better in the moment and that the sun will come up tomorrow, and you're going to have wonderful memories from your time at LSU. And then you go and you hug each one of them and you let them cry."
The team itself has rallied around Johnson, encouraging her to use the loss as motivation moving forward. Teammate Mikaylah Williams expressed support, saying, "Obviously, that's not how she wants to end her senior year and her career here at LSU. But the conversation we had was for her to remember this feeling and carry it over to the next level, go to the next level and be that same person, that same hard worker that she is and hoop."
Beyond the emotional aftermath of the tournament loss, LSU faces significant changes in its coaching staff. Two assistant coaches, Gary Redus II and Daphne Mitchell, have departed. Redus accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers, and Mitchell followed him there. These departures occurred before the NCAA Tournament, and Mulkey expressed understanding and support for their career moves. "You can't be married to two wives," she joked, urging them to move forward quickly. "Get out of here. Go to work. Get your staff in place. Get your kids that are there to stay."
Looking ahead, LSU is preparing for the arrival of its next recruiting class and potential additions through the transfer portal. The 2026 freshman class is highlighted by Lola Lampley, a 6-foot-2 wing/forward from Lawrence Central High School in Indiana. Lampley is ranked No. 17 nationally by 247Sports and is viewed as one of the top forward prospects in the country. Brandon Clay, LSU's director of scouting, praised her as a versatile player who could potentially serve as a third ball handler on offense at the collegiate level.
In terms of roster needs, LSU will likely look to strengthen its rebounding presence. The Tigers lost star rebounders Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, both of whom were double-double machines during their time at LSU. Their absence left a void on the boards that was keenly felt during the season and in the Sweet 16 loss to Duke. The team even embraced Reese's rebounding mentality as a mantra, wearing shirts that read "Anything that comes off that board, it's mine." However, replacing players of Reese and Morrow's caliber on the glass is a difficult challenge.
Mulkey highlighted rebounding and second-chance points as critical factors in the loss to Duke. "You put yourself in a position to win the game, and a crazy shot like that beats you. But rebounding and second-chance points really beat you," she said. Duke scored 19 points off second-chance opportunities, which LSU struggled to defend. Although the official rebound totals were equal, Mulkey noted that LSU was unable to string together multiple stops or secure rebounds to fuel fast breaks. "We just couldn't get three stops in a row. We couldn't rebound the ball so that we could take off in transition. It was kind of like we were moving in mud."
Despite the disappointment of the loss and the challenges ahead, Mulkey remains optimistic about LSU's future. She is focused on rebuilding the coaching staff, adding new players through recruiting and the transfer portal, and continuing to compete at a high level. Her commitment to the program and the sport is absolute, and she plans to remain at the helm as long as she is able to maintain a competitive team.
In summary, LSU's women's basketball program is at a crossroads following a dramatic and painful Sweet 16 defeat to Duke. The loss marked the end of Flau'jae Johnson's collegiate career and concluded a championship chapter under Kim Mulkey's leadership. Mulkey, a proven winner with four national titles as a head coach, is not ready to step away and is actively preparing for the next season. With significant coaching changes, incoming talent like Lola Lampley, and a need to address rebounding deficiencies, LSU is entering an offseason full of transition and opportunity. The path forward will require adjustments and resilience, but with Mulkey's experience and determination, the Tigers are poised to remain competitive in women's college basketball.